Thoughts about Royals

Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels- 15 November 2017

It’s that time of year again! The famous Auction Houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s are having their annual Autumn Magnificent and Noble Jewels Auctions in Geneva. As part of our annual tradition, we are featuring the notable jewels of Royal and Noble provenance from the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels Sale on November 15th in Geneva.

Composed of seven detachable turquoise and diamond stars, this Tiara, circa 1870, comes from the collection of Principessa Caracciolo di Castagneto, and was formerly in the collection of Duchessa Leopoldina Ruffo di Calabria.

A tiara, two pairs of earrings, a brooch, and a pendant, all circa 1870, were formerly in the collection of Mathilde von Württemberg, Princess von Urach, Countess von Württemberg (1854-1907), who was the daughter of Théodolinde de Beauharnais, Princess of Leuchtenberg (a granddaughter of the famous Empress Josephine) and has been passed by descent.

A sapphire and diamond tiara and hair ornament, composed of a spray of forget-me-nots and anemones, and a sapphire and diamond necklace, were formerly in the Collection of a European Noble Family and have been sold at auction as recently as 2015, and were on display at Köchert in Vienna in 2016.

Composed of a line of large cabochon emeralds alternating with diamonds, this necklace was part of the corbeille de mariage of Vittoria Balbi Senarega, a gift from her husband, Prince Innocenzo Odescalchi, on 2 February 1913. Part of a larger emerald parure, worn in its entirety by the Princess at the Quirinal Palace in 1938 (second picture), the jewels were divided and remodelled after Princess Odescalchi’s 1965 death, but the necklace has remained intact.

This cross pendant, set with four cabochon sapphires, circa 1850, comes from the collection of Princess Olga Cantacuzene (1843-1929), daughter of Prince Alessandro Rodionovich Cantacuzene and Marie Rainaud.

This necklace, set with diamonds and pear-shaped emeralds, and emerald and diamond earrings, from the first half of the 19th century belonged to the Duchess of Berry, wife of Henri, Duke of Berry, second son of King Charles X of France. The Duke was assassinated in 1820, just before the Duchess birth to an heir, Henri. She is famous for supporting the Bourbon claim to the French Throne for her son, but was unsuccessful, partly due to her secret remarriage to Ettore Carlo Lucchesi-Palli, Count Lucchesi-Palli, Duke della Grazia. Henri, known as Count of Chambord, had no children, and was the last of the Bourbon dynasty. This suite was offered for sale at Sotheby’s last May, but was pulled out of the Auction at the last minute.

One thought on “Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels- 15 November 2017”

The sapphire and diamond tiara as well as the brooch and necklace greatly remind me of the ruby parure currently in the Danish royal family. It might be that the main difference is that here the sapphires in the tiara are larger than the rubies are in the Danish piece. If I had unlimited funds, I would go for the emerald necklace from the Odescalchi family. 🙂